Canseco Telling It Like It Is

Need More Pitching

April 11, 1995|By PAUL DOYLE; Courant Staff Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Everyone knows the Red Sox pitching staff needs help. Roger Clemens has said it, while lobbying for the return of his friend Bruce Hurst. General manager Dan Duquette has acknowledged it, while working to consummate a deal.

Even manager Kevin Kennedy, always the optimist, says another starter would help.

But no one has cut to the core like Jose Canseco.

As he sat in the dugout Monday at City of Palms Park, Canseco played the role of general manager and analyzed his team.

``I see us with . . . two starters, maybe three,'' Canseco said. ``I see us as definitely very, very short in the bullpen. Definitely at stopper. I don't know who's going to take that role, in short relief. We're missing all these positions. I think we need one more blue-chip starter, and a couple of guys that know how to pitch in that short relief position.

``We definitely have a chance. It's just that sometimes you're missing small, intricate parts that make the machine run -- and we don't have those parts. It's going to be real tough for us. Things are going to have to go our way every night.''

When asked about the competition, specifically the Yankees and their strong bullpen, Canseco seemed unimpressed -- or at least uninformed.

``Their short relief, their long relief . . . I don't know who they're going to use,'' he said.

How about Steve Howe and John Wetteland as a lefty-righty combination?

``Steve Howe?'' Canseco said.

Canseco grimaced, shrugged and said: ``You know how last year, you saw all those high averages? You're going to see it again this year. You might see a lot of home runs, high averages, a lot of RBI. It's not like in the past, when I came in, '85, '86, and there were some teams out there with great pitching that would just dominate. It's just not happening anymore.''

As for Wetteland, whom the Red Sox coveted, Canseco isn't sure the switch from the National League will be easy for the former Expo.

``I think the American League has much better hitters, strong hitters, a lot more power hitters,'' Canseco said.

``Here, you make a mistake, you're not going to get away with it as often as you will in the National League. I know Wetteland is an excellent pitcher and he has great stuff, but, basically, as any pitcher knows, if he makes a mistake [in the American League], you're not going to get away with it.''

That especially holds true for the Red Sox lineup, Canseco said. He says he can't think of a better offensive trio than himself, Mo Vaughn and Mark Whiten.

When he was acquired Dec. 9, Canseco considered himself the first piece of the Red Sox rebuilding puzzle. The other pieces were supposed to improve the pitching.

Rheal Cormier and Stan Belinda aren't enough.

``I think [management] is making an effort to try and give us as much help as possible,'' Canseco said. ``I know from experience, playing with the Texas Rangers last year, we had a devastating offensive team. . . . There is no way -- I don't care how strong you are defensively and offensively -- if we don't have pitching, we're not going to win.''

Canseco's suggestion? How about lefthander Randy Johnson, who is being shopped by the Mariners.

``That would be great,'' Canseco said. ``To me, he's one of the best pitchers in baseball. Definitely the nastiest lefty I've ever seen in my life. It would be great to trade for him.''

Closing role suits Belinda

Belinda, who signed as a free agent Sunday, has struggled for the past 1 1/2 seasons after being traded by the Pirates to the Royals on July 31, 1993. He never adjusted to a setup role for Jeff Montgomery in Kansas City. In Pittsburgh, he was the closer on two East Division championship teams. But he may always be remembered as the pitcher who gave up the winning hit to Francisco Cabrera of the Braves in Game 7 of the 1992 National League Championship Series. ``It was one pitch, it was a good pitch,'' Belinda said. ``I'm not going to take it back. I was in a situation any reliever dreams of being in. I just didn't come out on top.'' . . . Kennedy said the Red Sox continue to pursue another starter. Free agent righthander Erik Hanson and Todd Stottlemyre are being considered. The Red Sox made offers to righthander Jaime Navarro, who signed with the Cubs, and righthander Bobby Witt, who signed with the Marlins. ``We're looking for a No. 3 [starter] type,'' Kennedy said. ``We're not looking for fillers.'' . . . Right-handed reliever Alejandro Pena, who has pitched for the Dodgers, Mets and Braves, will work out for the Red Sox today at City of Palms Park. . . . Kennedy said the Red Sox are committed to Lee Tinsley in center field and are not looking for another outfielder. They are also losing interest in utility player Randy Velarde, who is asking for about $650,000.